Do-or-die battle for Campa Cola residents

Six days to the deadline to vacate their illegal flats at Campa Cola compound, four residents began a hunger strike on Monday to try and persuade the authorities not to demolish their houses.

It’s a do-or-die battle for about 100 flat owners, who have till Monday to move out and let the civic body undertake the demolition of 35 illegal floors in seven buildings. The floors were declared illegal by the Supreme Court on account of FSI violations at the time of construction.

“It’s alright for the BMC to show us rules. But I have nowhere to go when I am evicted from here.

Whatever I have is here in this compound and in my home. So I have taken this step,” said Kapurchand Jain (67), who is on hunger strike.

Many residents have vacated their flats, but are still hoping that chief minister Prithviraj Chavan will intervene and prevent the demolition. They also hope to meet the chief minister on Wednesday. Leaders of the Congress, the BJP and the Shiv Sena have appealed to Chavan to help the residents.

On the fast along with Jain are Vinaychand Hirawat (also 67), Kamal Parikh (45) and Surendra Kumar Daga (49). Many younger residents have joined the protest, helping with the arrangements and pinning up posters. Some children plan to participate in a relay fast.

“How can we sleep peacefully when we are being thrown out of our homes? We are short of time and I hope that the authorities will do something for us soon,” said Hirawat, the other senior citizen on fast, with his teenage grandson Pranav sitting alongside.

The lone woman on hunger strike, Kamal Parikh, was equally determined. “I have to save my home. I will sit here till the last moment. It is a do-or-die battle for me,” she said. Late on Tuesday, the four protestors were checked by medical personnel. “The woman was found to have high blood pressure,” said a resident.

Many residents who will not lose their flats are supporting the protest. “We will join the fast in the coming days,” said a resident of Orchid building. They are working out plans to step up the protest. “We cannot sit and wait till the demolition day dawns,” said another resident.

In February, the Supreme Court directed the BMC to demolish all floors above the fifth.